This band’s second studio album NEO NATURAL FREAKS came out at the beginning of 2006 and after a lot of touring in Scandinavia, Europe and Japan they will now deliver their long-awaited third album. The only remaining member is guitarist/bandleader Y and along with new members the band also has a new label. I saw the band live two times last year and what struck me both times was the geniality of the new singer Blade. He and Y are natural frontmen and there was no longing for the previous singer at all. Blade has done a great job so far and he sounds amazing both live and in the studio.

Y hasn’t changed the musical style and Fatal Smile mangles the same heavy 80’s hard rock influenced by glam/sleaze party rock’n’roll that they always have. The music has gone through some minor changes though: the tempo has increased, there’s more focus on a heavier and rawer guitar sound, and I also hear a more solid rhythm section. All that is combined with a great singer who really makes the music come alive and you can bet I was delighted when I first heard WORLD DOMINATION. All those minor changes make the album stand out as a giant in its genre. It’s fantastic to hear that Fatal Smile managed to create something fresh and fun yet familiar, because they haven’t lost an inch of the original Fatal Smile sound. If this is the path the band are going in the future I do believe they’re gonna achieve world domination.

“S.O.B” is the first song that explodes in your ears and it’s the perfect opening track with its raging tempo, edgy guitar riffs and Blade’s amazing lead vocals. It sets the bar for the rest of the album and the disc continues on in the same excellent way. “Stranger”, “Primed and Ready”, “Too Far Down”, “Straight to Hell” and “Eve of War” follow, and the album gets even stronger and stronger with each song. Wild and dangerous guitar riffs are handled by Y and the rhythm section makes magic and creates a perfect foundation.

The up-tempo ballad “No Tomorrow” is a potential radio hit and Blade shows the sensitivity and nerve in his voice; it’s nice to hear that he can sing both heavy party rock ’n’ roll as well as softer songs. There are no bad songs on WORLD DOMINATION and the party continues on with songs like “Out of My Hand”, “Run for your Life” and “Fatal Smile”.

This masterpiece gets better and better the more I listen to it. If the last album was amazing, this one blows your mind right from the start. I really hope that this is the final line-up and that Y doesn’t make any changes in this magic combination of musicians. Fatal Smile makes me proud to be Swedish. Get ready to be dominated by this Swedish supergroup in the near future. You have been warned – WORLD DOMINATION is coming soon!

Track Listing

1. S.O.B
2. Stranger
3. Primed and Ready
4. Too Far Down
5. No Tomorrow
6. Out of my Head
7. Run for your Life
8. Fatal Smile
9. Straight to Hell
10. Eve of War